Appointing Sereno as chief justice a 'mistake' - Gordon

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Former President Benigno Aquino III made a mistake when he appointed Maria Lourdes Sereno as Chief Justice because she was too young, a senator said Wednesday.

"You’re putting a young lady before seasoned veterans of the law, seniors....I thought that was a mistake because when you appoint somebody that young, politically, realistically, babangga-banggain 'yan," Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, told ANC's Headstart.

"She might be there for the next 17 years. Wala nang pag-asa yung iba. They will be watching her and she will be living on tenterhooks," he said.

Sereno became the first female chief justice at age 52 in 2012 after former Chief Justice Reynato Corona was impeached.

She is now facing an impeachment complaint in Congress as well as a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court questioning her qualifications for the top magistrate position.

The House justice committee has found probable cause in the impeachment complaint against Sereno. The panel is expected to file a committee report to the plenary, which will then vote on whether or not to impeach the Chief Justice.